The countdown to the NFL Draft begins!"In this series we will look at mocking viable and realistic options to the Colts each week and analyzing how each pick fits in Indianapolis.Welcome to Mock Draft Face Off with Elliot and Stephen! The offseason is officially here and the NFL Draft is arguably the leagues biggest offseason event Youth Devin Funchess Jersey , so each week we will mock draft picks to the Colts and analyze them. We will be start off with just the first round and build up to include later rounds as we get into free agency and closer to the draft. Elliot’s Round 1 - Pick 26Glenn Beil-USA TODAY SportsEDGE Brian Burns - Florida State The Colts need a pass rusher so why not grab one of the best in the draft. Burns collected 23 sacks in three years at Florida State against top-level talent. He could add some mass to his frame as he weights in the 235 pound range, but his 6 feet 5 inch body will surely be able to handle it. Chris Ballard has been preaching about the importance of shoring up the defensive line and fixing the pass rush. Burns would be an ideal long-term solution to the Colts pass rushing woes.Reed’s Analysis - Overall, I like the pick. EDGE is arguably the Colts biggest need and is a position Chris Ballard said he’d attack this off-season. Burns is one of the more refined pass rushers in this class with a multitude of pass rush moves to keep tackles guessing. He’s got an explosive first step and fantastic bend around the edge.As Elliot mentioned, the biggest concern with Burns is his lack of size. He certainly has the frame to bulk up a bit but is that the best idea? This brings the same concerns Colts current MLB Anthony Walker had at Northwestern. Walker excelled based on his speed and ability to make plays. He bulked up to help the team but in doing so lost what was arguably what made him special. Would the same thing happen to Burns? That’s impossible to say. But even if the Colts didn’t have Burns bulk up, he could be an absolute steal at this point in the draft.Reed’s Round 1 - Pick 26Photo by Donald Page/Getty ImagesEDGE Jachai Polite - FloridaAs was mentioned earlier, Chris Ballard has iterated that he intends to address the pass rush this offseason. Polite came on strong in 2018 and showed that he can be a force off the edge. He’s got one of the most explosive first steps and reaches top speed quickly. He’s not as refined a pass rusher as others in this class but offers a terrific spin move, which might give Colts fans some flashbacks to pass rushers of old. The biggest concern for Polite is his ability to hold up at the point of attack in the running game so it probably won’t hurt for him to add some weight. Polite has been mocked all over round one thus far so who knows where he’ll finally end up. If he does fall, the Colts will be elated to get a player of Polite’s caliber at the end of the first round.Elliot’s AnalysisGreat minds think alike J'Marcus Webb Jersey Stitched , Stephen. Like my pick, Stephen went with EDGE and I love it. Jachai Polite is one of the top pass rushers in this draft, providing the ability to win in a variety of ways including speed-bend rushing and good technique. Add in his ability to hold up well against the run and he is a well rounded edge prospect.As Stephen mentioned, Polite doesn't do as well at the point of attack in the run game, but he isn’t a liability by any means. Would added size help or at 6 feet 2 inches tall and already 240 pounds, is he maxed out? Add in the fact that the Colts already have edge rushers on the roster who are good against the run and Polite could develop that side of his game. My biggest concern for Polite would be his production. He was terrific in his last season at Florida, managing 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss, but in his two previous years he couldn’t manage 5 total sacks. Is Polite a one season wonder or just someone who got it all together at the right time? The Colts didn’t try to trade for Le'Veon Bell. They didn’t attempt to sign Mark Ingram. They did bring in Jay Ajayi for a visit last week Youth Chester Rogers Jersey , but he remains unsigned.The Colts standing pat at the position affirms their feelings about Marlon Mack.While the Colts will continue with their running back-by-committee approach, Mack will lead the way.“I think at this point going into it, it’s still by-committee, but Marlon’s a little bit more the featured guy,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “I mean, you saw that, when he’s healthy. Nyheim [Hines] and Jordan [Wilkins] are still going to get their plays and take some of the load off, but I thought the way we ran it when Marlon was in last year was Chester Rogers Jersey Stitched , hey, it’s by-committee, but with emphasis on Marlon being the No. 1 guy.”Mack rushed for 908 yards and nine touchdowns on 195 carries last season, starting 10 of the 12 games he played. He also caught 17 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.The Colts expect even more from Mack in his third season.“He’s got burst,” Reich said. “He’s really smart. In Houston, he was dominant. And Marlon, he’s got burst, and he’s got that speed Youth Denico Autry Jersey , but he’s a good inside runner. He’s got good play strength. That’s one of the phrases we talk about: What’s his play strength like? He’s got good burst; he’s got good vision. The secret is he’s been a little dinged up, so just need a couple of years producing, and producing those kind of numbers. And obviously, the direction I feel like we’re going, especially in the run game — my expectations this year for our run game are really, really high. Really high.”
